This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character, Drizzt Do'Urden. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in these new audiobook editions.

Exile: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 2

Hostile in ways that a surface-dweller could never know, the tunnel-mazes of the Underdark challenge all who tread there. Among these souls are Drizzt Do'Urden and his magical cat, Guenhwyvar. Exiled from his drow homeland, Drizzt must fight for a new home in the boundless labyrinth. Meanwhile, he must watch for signs of pursuit - for the dark elves are not a forgiving race.

Sojourn: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 3

R. A. Salvatore's New York Times best-selling novel! Drizzt DoUrden has forsaken his subterranean home for the harsh unknown of the surface. The young warrior begins a sojourn through a world utterly unlike his own - and finds that acceptance among the surface-dwellers will only come at a great price....

The Crystal Shard: Legend of Drizzt: Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1

Drizzt Do’Urden has settled in the windswept towns of Icewind Dale. There, he encounters a young barbarian named Wulfgar, captured in a raid and made the ward of a grizzled dwarf name Bruenor. With Drizzt’s help, Wulfgar will grow from a feral child to a man with the heart of a dwarf, the instincts of a savage, and the soul of a hero. But it will take even more than that to defeat the demonic power of Crenshininbon, the fabled Crystal Shard.

Streams of Silver: Legend of Drizzt: Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 2

Drizzt Do'Urden struggles with his own inner voices, voices that call him back to the pitiless depths of the Underdark. But louder still are the voices of his newfound friends, and the dream that drives Bruenor Battlehammer on to reclaim Mithral Hall. Time and again they're told to turn back, that some dreams can never be fulfilled, but on they fight - together.

The Halfling's Gem: Legend of Drizzt: Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 3

Assassin Artemis Entreri whisks his kidnapped victim, Regis the halfling, south to Calimport and into Pasha Pook's vengeful hands. If Pook can control the magical panther Guenhwyvar, Regis will die in a real game of cat and mouse. Using an enchanted mask, dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden hides his heritage and races with the barbarian Wulfgar to save their light-fingered friend. An unexpected ally arrives just as Entreri springs a trap. But can Regis survive unscathed?

The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack: Burton & Swinburne, Book 1

Sir Richard Francis Burton and Algernon Charles Swinburne are sucked into the perilous depths of a moral and ethical vacuum when Lord Palmerston commissions Burton to investigate assaults on young women committed by a weird apparition known as Spring Heeled Jack - and to find out why werewolves are terrorizing London's East End.

The Legacy: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow, Book 1

Having found a measure of peace among the dwarves in the reclaimed Mithral Hall, Drizzt begins to know contentment for perhaps the first time in his tumultuous life. But for a dark elf renegade from a city ruled by priestesses of a demon goddess, no peace can long last. It is Lolth herself, the dreaded Queen of the Demonweb Pits, who musters her followers to pour up from the black depths of the Underdark to reclaim for their goddess the one soul that had managed to elude her. The soul of Drizzt Do'Urden.

Clockwork Angel: The Infernal Devices, Book 1

When 16-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Storm Front: The Dresden Files, Book 1

A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters.

Starless Night: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow, Book 2

The Underdark. A place of brooding darkness, where no shadows exist, and where Drizzt Do'Urden does not wish to go. The noble dark elf must return there, though, he must go back to find his friends in the gnome city of Blingdenstone, and on to Menzoberranzan, the city of drow. Only then can Drizzt discern what perils might reach out from that dark place to threaten his friends in Mithril Hall.

Golden Son: Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy

Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within.

Nine Princes in Amber: The Chronicles of Amber, Book 1

Amber is the one real world, of which all others including our own Earth are but Shadows. Amber burns in Corwin's blood. Exiled on Shadow Earth for centuries, the prince is about to return to Amber to make a mad and desperate rush upon the throne.

Siege of Darkness: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow, Book 3

Gods walk the Realms! Rising up from the black depths of the Underdark, the drow once more meet the dwarves of Mithral Hall. Bruenor Battlehammer, with Drizzt at his side, won't go down without a fight - but they'll have to fight without Wulfgar or Catti-brie at their sides.

Lock In (Narrated by Amber Benson)

Not too long from today, a new, highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. Most who get sick experience nothing worse than flu, fever, and headaches. But for the unlucky one percent - and nearly five million souls in the United States alone - the disease causes "Lock In": Victims fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. The disease affects young, old, rich, poor, people of every color and creed. The world changes to meet the challenge.

Hero

In the story comic book legend Stan Lee calls "spellbinding" and "totally original," Thom Creed has secrets. For one, like his father, he has super powers. Also, he's been asked to join the Leaguethe very organization of superheroes that spurned his dad. Then theres the secret Thom can barely face himself: he's gay. But becoming a member of the League opens up a new world to Thom. There, he connects with a misfit group of aspiring heroes, including Scarlett, Typhoid Larry, and Ruth, a wise old broad who can see the future. Like Thom, these heroes have things to hide....

Alas, Babylon

This true modern masterpiece is built around the two fateful words that make up the title and herald the end - “Alas, Babylon.” When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed instantly. But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness....

Croak

Fed up with her wild behavior, 16-year-old Lex’s parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than shoveling manure. He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach Lex the family business. She quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next.

At the Mountains of Madness [Blackstone Edition]

This Lovecraft classic is a must-have for every fan of classic terror. When a geologist leads an expedition to the Antarctic plateau, his aim is to find rock and plant specimens from deep within the continent. The barren landscape offers no evidence of any life form - until they stumble upon the ruins of a lost civilization. Strange fossils of creatures unknown to man lead the team deeper, where they find carved stones dating back millions of years. But it is their discovery of the terrifying city of the Old Ones that leads them to an encounter with an untold menace.

Passage to Dawn: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow, Book 4

Drizzt and Catti-brie have been away from Mithral Hall for six long years, but the pain of a lost companion still weighs heavily on their strong shoulders. Chasing pirates aboard Captain Deudermont's Sea Sprite is enough to draw their attention away from their grief. Then a mysterious castaway on an uncharted island sends them back to the very source of their pain, and into the clutches of a demon with vengeance on his mind.

Midnight Riot: Peter Grant, Book 1

Probationary constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he'll face is a paper cut. But Peter's prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter's ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale....

14

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s.

The Killer Angels: A Novel of the Civil War

After 30 years and with three million copies in print, Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War classic, The Killer Angels, remains as vivid and powerful as the day it was originally published.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes. Until now.As Harry nears the end of his 11th life, a little girl appears at his bedside. "I nearly missed you, Doctor August," she says. "I need to send a message." This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow.

Map of Bones: A Sigma Force Novel, Book 2

During a crowded service at a cathedral in Germany, armed intruders in monks' robes unleash a nightmare of blood and destruction. But the killers have not come for gold; they seek a more valuable prize: the bones of the Magi who once paid homage to a newborn savior...a treasure that could reshape the world.

Publisher's Summary

This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character, Drizzt Do'Urden. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in these new audiobook editions.

Drizzt is, by far, the most iconic drow character in fantasy literature. He's so popular that within the circles of roleplaying gamers, both tabletop and computer, it's a common joke that every drow is a two-sword wielding goodie goodie, despite their race's fierce reputation. Players will name their characters in an homage to Drizzt, just as they might with Legolas or Gandalf. That's some high praise, right there.

Homeland is the first book of the Dark Elf Trilogy and the (truly massive) Legend of Drizzt Saga. While it's not the first appearance of Drizzt, it's the place for new readers to start, because here you'll learn of both his origins and his background. Homeland describes the City of Menzoberranzan, home of the drow, and the struggles for power that take place there.

If you've never read a book about the drow, you'll quickly find that there's a lot to learn here. Salvatore assumes that the reader is unfamiliar with his setting, and he exposes the reader to the atrocities committed in the name of drow culture through the eyes of the naive and innocent Drizzt. By the end of the book, you will have a good feel for what the drow are all about, and likely be hungry for more of their plots and intrigue.

The story features many interesting characters: the insidious matron Malice, the vengeful Alton Devir, the noble Zaknafein. Drizzt is the primary hero, but to be perfectly honest, I found his character arc the weakest in the book. His naïveté and indomitable innocence are meant to be his best qualities, but I felt robbed of the potential for a redemption story that could have made him much more interesting. Surrounded by characters who are falling into ruin through their own actions or finding spiritual redemption for their crimes, Drizzt's transition from naive to slightly-less-naive doesn't feel very spectacular. This is, however, a matter of taste. The tone of this novel really sets up the heroic tone the larger series is known for.

As for the delivery, Bevine does an admirable job. I have quibbles on pronunciation, here and there, but since all of these words were born on paper, there probably is no solid agreement on any of them. Bevine does a good job of transitioning between the harsh calculating characters like Matron Malice and the more idealistic Drizzt, which is rather impressive.

Ultimately, if you are interested in learning more about the drow or getting into the Drizzt series of novels, this is a great place to start. The intrigue and plots are interesting, but there's enough action to keep you interested if that's more your speed.

Absolutely! And I can't wait to hear the other novels in this series (and all of R.A. Salvatore's other works as well). Books by D&D authors sometimes go unnoticed and unread because people think they are "toy books" or "gaming non-sense". NOT TRUE. The books by Salvatore are quite in-depth, exciting and wonderfully written. You can loose yourself in his combat scenes, feeling the moment rather than reading (or listening) to it.

What did you like best about this story?

This book is actually a "flashback", written after the Icewind Dale Trilogy, so it was thrilling to learn of the past and home-life of my favorite purple eyed dark elf...

Which character – as performed by Victor Bevine – was your favorite?

Victor Bevine's Drizzt was wonderful, but he brought Zaknafein to life for me.I was certainly glad he didn't affect any silly Earth-ly "accents" in his reading. A faked Irish or Scottish accent would have destroyed this work. Victor Bevine did a 5 Star job with this novel. I certainly hope he reads more of these works!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I actually did listen to it all in one go. I am privileged to work in an environment that allows me to listen to my iPod while I work my 10 hour shift, so I finished this one in 1 day :)

Any additional comments?

I read this book years ago when it was first printed, having been an R.A. Salvatore fan (hooked since The Crystal Shard, his first work), and I was pleasantly surprised to see this wonderful work made available on Audible. The books of Salvatore were my mainstay reading when I was beginning my journey into the fantasy world of The Forgotten Realms, at my own gaming table and on my bookshelf. this is a WIN for Audible Frontiers!

I was somewhat worried before buying this book, due in large part to the butchering Audible gave to the Dragonlance Chronicles, which, like this series, I'd read when I was younger. Also, I'd tried reading/listening to Salvatore's Neverwinter Saga, and found it overly dramatic and simple (considering it's a lead-in to a computer game, and I'd heard Salvatore wasn't too happy about writing it the way his publishers wanted, it may not be his best effort). But, having loved this series and the Icewind Dale trilogy years ago, I decided to give it a shot in audio, wanting to re-experience these stories.And I'm glad I did.Victor Bevine's narration is very good- he conveys both the emotions of the characters and the urgency of a battle scene very well, and overall delivers a great listening experience. And, in my opinion, Salvatore's early work is superior to his later novels. If you're expecting a lot of politicking and other "tedium" that can slow down other books, you may be disappointed. These books are fast-paced and action-packed. Salvatore's writing style is different from the likes of Jordan, Sanderson, and Erikson (all of whom I enjoy), but that is not a negative. They're just plain fun.I can't wait for the next books to be released. And that doesn't happen too often.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I neither laughed nor cried but am happy Drizzt spends time with his father.

Any additional comments?

having already read it I knew what was gonna happen, I bought it anyways on audio. I imagine the rest of the series will be read by the same man and equally as good. the whole series so far up to where I have read is great. I started with homeland and have bought all the books except the neverwinter saga. I plan on buying all the drizzt on audio. just waiting for movies now.

I'm noticing that the more I love an author's work, the longer the review.

So, strap in. And be warned. This will NOT be short. This work deserves a detailed review. You deserve more than a cursory review on this series.

Keep in mind that I read this series many, many years ago, and began writing this review in the hopes that once I listened to it as soon as it hit my library, it would be a positive work. And it is. I'm glad, because I also was ready to give it a scathing review if poorly produced.

Let's begin.

First a bit of background on the author. I've thoroughly enjoyed R.A. Savaltore's fantasy writing for many years, and consider a fair portion of his writing (and listening) to be essential additions to any Audible listener's library. Granted, no author's entire body of work is perfect, and Salvatore' is definitely NOT an exception to this tried and true literary rule. Some of his earlier work reflects an author still finding his way, and is uninspired and drifting. However, when he penned the Drizzt origin trilogy, he moved into a more masterful and inspired writing direction, creating dynamic and page-turning writing enjoyed by fantasy readers and listeners around the world.

Today, Salvatore is, essentially, a stand-apart Wordsmith among the myriad of fantasy authors to whom you've listened. Anyone who's read his DemonWars Saga, his Forgotten Realms, and Star Wars novels understands why I appreciate what this fantastic author brings to the literary table.

So, on to this first in the Drizzt origin trilogy.

Why is this series so important, and therefore, such an essential fantasy addition to your Audible library?

Salvatore's trilogy has some of the most engaging fantasy writing you'll quite possibly read. His sweeping and vivid descriptions of Menzoberranzan, the cavernous underdark kingdom of the drow elves, the intricate machiavellian backstabbing plots between the drow ruling houses, and even within Drizzt's own horribly dysfunctional family, and the spot on engaging storyline were well received by the public. The trilogy eventually launched numerous sequels and novels by Salvatore and other enjoyable novels in the crow universe by equally inspired authors (See my Audible Spider Queen series review, and expect my Icewind Dale review in the future!). This fantastic body of work has made a HUGE impact on modern epic fantasy, and it raised the bar on what we could, and SHOULD, expect from good fantasy writing.

And in this case, our very valuable Audible credits.

As usual, I do NOT provide spoilers, nor plot giveaways in review. Again, the journey, ESPECIALLY in this series, has its own voyage of discovery that simply must be experienced firsthand. I'm confident that some of you will will mark this review as not helpful for this reason. So be it. I will not spoil this fantastic journey for the rest of you. There is so much to the drow novels, that you are going to by busy, and pleasantly so. Here's one SMALL example. Here's a list of the MAJOR drow houses, and all play a part in these fantastic novels:

The MAJOR houses of Menzoberranzan, in order of dominance (There ARE others):1.Baenre2. Barrison Del'Armgo3. Oblodra (challenged by another house in another novel)4. DeVir (challenged by another house in this novel)5. Hun'ett (challenged by another house in another novel)6. Faen Tlabbar7. Xorlarrin8. Agrach Dyrr (challenged by another house in another novel)9. Mizzrym10. Do'Urden (later challenged by another house in another novel)11. Fey-Branche12. Tuin'Tarl13. Duskryn14. Srune'Lett15. Horlbar16. Kenafin17. Druu'giir18. Hunzrin19. Shobalar20. Vandree21. Symryvvin

I challenge you - Go look on the web for the astounding collection of information and lore on the lore of these novels. It's rich. It's daunting. It's exhausting. it's consuming.

It's fantastic.

Now, on to Salvatore's writing style. He's not an Erikson or Moorcock. Those artists take their time in descriptive writing that requires strong focus to be enjoyed. Salvatore's style is more like the lovechild of Brooks and Chalker - Down to earth, a bit more to the point, yet vividly descriptive. I found myself getting wonderfully lost inside this trilogy, and I'm betting you will too.

Keep in mind that years ago, there was an earlier audiobook of this trilogy. It was intolerable, due to the unpleasant narration - It truly ruined the effort. I stayed up late to download this audiobook, and begin my listening. Here, the narrator is much better, and doesn't impede the author's work. Nicely done, and a wonderful improvement, Mr. Bevine!

So, be warned, dear Audible listener. You're going to be spoiled by this work, and you're going to demand equally good listening of your fantasy authors.

You'll also want to get the other two audiobooks in this fantastic series, and want the rest of the drow audiobooks here at Audible.

It was a look inside drow society. It explains alot of how why and makes you understand the true depth of evil of the drow and of how couragiouse drizzit truly is to become the hero we know and love. If your new to R.A. salvator;s Drizzit then this is the first book of all of his adventures and sets the stage magnificently.

What about Victor Bevine’s performance did you like?

The voice acotr was awesome truly brought the story to life. He brought life to the charecters and did diffrent accents and was very easy to determine naration of differing charecters.

Salvatore can barely be called competent as a writer (at the time he wrote this book), but he doesn't need to be. Some people want masterpieces, others want entertainment, this book deliver plenty of entertainment.

Drizzt and I "met" when I was entering my teen years, and listening to Drizzt's adventures made my life that much richer. When I first heard the audiobooks, the recordings was a cassette-rip that was unbearably bad. This re-recording gives me the opportunity to pay for me enjoying the adventures of Drizzt, but also one that sounds great.

I can recommend this book (and it's sequels) to anyone who like some great entertainment wile taking the bus or jogging. It's easy to follow, narrated excellently and gives anyone between 10 and 100 a magical world to be carried away to, from the mundanity of everyday life.

I don't know if it is the author or just this these Forgotten Realm books, but I can't into these. Everything is magical or enchanted, the plethora of adjectives and adverbs are uncountable. To me good writing does not need all of these descriptive narratives. For my fantasy I prefer Robin Hobb, she gets in my head.

This is very popular with a certain set of the fantasy world. I believe if you like Terry Brooks, you will love this.

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